On Monday It Was Nearly 60 Degrees

Lieren at 19 Months

Sometimes I look at her and I think how beautiful she is.

She has this porcelain fair skin and blue eyes.  Her features are amazingly delicate.  When I put bows in her hair I can't get over the unique light strawberry hair she has.  What color will it become?  And people often ask if I curl her hair in back.  Thankfully, no.  It just curls perfectly on its own.

While she is Simeon's big sister by 6 minutes, she is the little sister physically.  She weighs barely over 21 pounds and remains petitely in the 10th percentile.

I often wonder who taught her to be so feminine.  Did she learn to tilt her head to the side when she needs to pout or did she just know from the beginning that she should?  In a house full of trucks and balls, what makes her gravitate to the dolls and animals?  Loving them, feeding them, and holding them just the right way come natural to her.  She is a girl's girl.  

These days I have stopped counting how many words Lieren says.  I can't keep up.  She is expressive and dramatic.  And she loves people, especially her family.  One of her favorite things to do is to point out who all is with us when we gather (at the table, in the car, anywhere):  Daddy, Mommy, Si-si, Simmy, Lieren, Lulu, Auggie...if someone is missing she will say their name in question until I reassure her about where they are.  I love to hear her say her name, almost like Ye-yen.  Our sweet girl is a singer.  One favorite right now is Ba Ba Black Sheep.  And she will surprise me with something new all the time.  Just the other day she began singing Oh How I Love Jesus.  Her version right now is Oh, how I Jesus, oh, how I Jesus, oh, how I Jesus, something something something ME.

When our doctor asked how I would describe Lieren I said, "Laid back."  And she is for the most part.  She sleeps wonderfully, is sweet even when she doesn't feel good, will let just about anyone hold her, shares fairly well for her age, and loves to help.  I would also add, "Talkative, observant, tender, loving, and interactive."

Sweet Lieren-girl, you will never be lost among your brothers.  How we love that you will have all of them around to protect you.  And they will have you to bring a touch of calm to their boyish chaos.  They need you, darling girl.  The Lord knew we all did.  Your gentle spirit is a gift.  May the Lord use it for His glory.

Your beauty...should be that of your inner self,

the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, 

which is of great worth in God's sight.

1 Peter 3:3,4

Sunday

I wish every Sunday could be like this Sunday was.  As we were both about passed out on the couch at the end of the day, I told Shane that this Sunday was the best Sunday we have had in weeks.  Sundays are busy days for us and because Shane has several different responsibilities, I do much of the child getting ready and feeding and transporting to multiple places myself.  By about 9:30 or 10 on Sunday night, Shane and I are both ready for a break.  But I should have known this was going to be a good Sunday when we were all ready for church early and then we sang Simeon's song during worship!

This Sunday, on top of our usual stuff, we had a couple "events".  First of all, Simeon fell into our bottom stair about 30 minutes before we left for church (this is one thing I hope we don't ever repeat on a Sunday or any day, for that matter).  It immediately started to swell and bruise.  The picture really doesn't do it justice.  And even today he looks like he has a bit of a black eye.  But he was a trooper and endured everyone making much of him at church...

My friend Megan has been on me about never putting Lieren's hair in pigtails yet.  So in Megan's honor (Megan and her husband keep our children most Sunday nights so I can go to our high school worship), I put Lieren's hair up on Sunday afternoon.  It was so cute and I couldn't believe how long it was!

Today I took the children on an outing to Target.  We hadn't all been in forever and they did wonderfully.  I was truly amazed at their behavior, and thankful.  Letting Simeon walk kept him happy; that boy loves to move.  And Silas seemed honestly aware of obeying and choosing a happy heart when I asked him to come along away from the toys.  He was a delight.  Lieren sat in the cart talking to me the entire time and seemed to care less about touching anything.  Just a snack and some conversation were good enough for her.

Oh, I almost forgot.  I was going to put these videos up from Sunday.  This first one is of Lieren singing the alphabet.  Silas tries to help her some, too.  And at the end she decides she is done and wants her paci.

And then this is a glimpse of kind-of normal life for us.  And you can hear Lieren saying her name...

Simeon at 19 Months

Some of my favorite moments with Simeon have recently been early in the morning, while the rest of our family sleeps.  Sim has been waking as early as before 6 and I am surrendered to the reality that once he wakes, he is up for the morning.  So if I am not up yet, I bring him into our room where he snuggles in bed until boredom takes over and he's ready to get up.  We head downstairs and I make breakfast for myself.  We let the dogs out.  He drinks some juice.  I hold him the entire time.

He has taken a liking to all my breakfasts: oatmeal, cream of wheat, an assortment of Kashi cereals, Shredded Wheat.  And we share some toast.  Then we have been sitting on the living room rug where he plays and I read the Bible for a bit.  This has been revolutionary in my life this past week.  Just having that moment of time in the morning consistently has made all the difference in my heart and attitude.

So Simmy Nash, the Lord knew what He was doing when He made you with your sleep patterns.  It has only taken me 19 months to figure it out, but now I can see it.

My mom went with me for Sim and Lieren's 18 month appointments last week.  Simeon weighed in at 27 pounds and is in about the 70th percentile.  He didn't get any shots because everyone in the house had colds last week so we have quite a few to catch up on eventually (I've been delaying shots with Sim because they have been so traumatic for him).

At 19 months, Simeon is saying over a hundred words.  And starting to put two words together.  Tonight he told me that "B" says ba.  And I wonder how he is growing up so fast.  Sim runs the greatest little boy run with his shoulders hunched up.  He jumps anytime he can, multiple times in a row.  He is a climber.  He does the cutest arm swing when he gets upset (both Shane and I agree we never want to forget it).  He is wearing 18 month clothes.  Sim loves and can name many of the Sesame Street characters: Elmo, Zoe, Grover, Big Bird, Snuffy, Oscar, Ernie, and Cookie Monster (especially funny since he never sees them on TV, just in our books).  He asks many times throughout the day for a widey (Silas called a video, videy, for the longest time so it stuck in our family; Sim makes the name funnier) then carries the box around, studying it and talking about it.  Sim is the one who always reminds us to pray before meals, clasps his hands together, and waits for someone to lead.  

When our pediatrician asked how I would describe Simeon, I said, "Passionate.  He is either very happy or very upset."  And I would add funny, energetic, determined, a snuggler, attached.

Today at lunch Silas requested we sing so I decided to play for him the songs I hold as most dear to me for each of our children.  It was a cold snowy day so we sang while we feasted on warm tomato soup.  I have talked about Silas' song and Lieren's song before, but don't think I've ever mentioned the song I love for Simeon.

Before Sim and Lieren were born, I could never settle on one song for him.  Then when the babies were just 4 weeks old, Shane and I drove with them up to Illinois from Louisville one week before we were supposed to move.  We still didn't know where we were going to live at the time and were praying that the Lord would give us a place.  He did.  And on Sunday I went to Harvest Bible Chapel Peoria for the first time as a staff wife.  Two tiny babies with us and one toddler back home, I think I was running on sheer adrenaline and grace.  That Sunday morning I heard this song for the first time.  I remember thinking at the time what a great promise it was for our children on their very first visit to church that anyone who calls upon His Name, they will be saved.  Little did I know how very many times I would need to be saved over the next year.  I chanted it to myself like a mantra at times, willing to believe that He would save in the midst of daily chaos.  As we sang along with it today, I thought how fitting it is for our Simeon, whose namesake looked with expectation for the Lord's salvation.

When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God saying:

"Sovreign Lord as You have promised,

you now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all people,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel."

Luke 2:27-32

Renovation of our Hearts

Yesterday I took my parents to the airport for them to fly back to their home across the ocean.  It was bittersweet.  It is always sad to say goodbye.  But it was so nice this time knowing they will be back in less than 3 months to celebrate the arrival of our baby boy.  Now that the Holidays are over, I am getting the sense that time is going to fly.

Today I declared it to be the start of a new and intense season of teaching and training our oldest.  Between Christmas, having lots of visitors in and out, being out of routine, and a couple rounds of sickness, I think we were all ready to say goodbye to whining and fits and welcome back our Happy Hearts, Loving Words, and Helping Hands.  So we did.  I am using a modified marble jar type idea and Silas' reward will be a trip to Chuck E. Cheese at the end of the week if he succeeds.  I was re-reading a section of Loving the Little Years last night and was convicted that he had not been learning well because I was not being a good teacher.  So, as is suggested in the book, if I wasn't doing my job right, I needed to change up the lessons and teach in a different way.  Today was proof that Silas does extremely well if I teach extremely well.  Tonight I am grateful that again our home felt the peace that comes with training in righteousness.  And grateful that the Lord is changing my heart too.

In other news, we stayed home all day so at about 10:35 this morning everyone was begging (read: whiny and bored and just asking to watch a video) for something to do so I decided to take them on a walk.  It was about 30 degrees and right as we walked out the door some kind of snow or ice or tiny hail started coming down.  We put on brave faces and went on.  It was the best decision I made all day.  The kids loved it and Silas talked about it endlessly.  By the time we came in it was time for lunch and everyone was so happy they played then sat in their chairs while I whipped up some mac & cheese and  cooked carrots (which I will openly admit none of the children really ate).

Lieren woke a bit sick today (all three have been passing a cold back and forth) and her little voice is hoarse.  It is the cutest thing I've ever heard.  She is such a doll.

Simeon was pretty fussy tonight.  It hurt my feelings a little bit, albeit a little nice in a different way, but he really only wanted Shane after dinner.  At bedtime he changed his tune, though, and snuggled with me like usual.  I put the two littles to bed early.  They didn't complain one bit.

Silas went with Shane to a basketball game tonight.  They should be back soon.  I actually debated going to bed right after I put the babies down.  While I don't feel like I did that much today, in reality I...
had a potty training session with Lieren, reinforced no hit more times than I can count, did 7 loads of laundry (none of which are put away), changed several diapers, read books with Simeon, created a reward chart with Silas, taught Lieren how to put on Mr. Potato Head's face, showered and brushed my teeth, took a nap, wrote a couple e-mails, made dinner, found the grace to be joyful when my littles woke early from their naps, woke Silas who had fallen asleep during rest time, rinsed some dishes, washed non-dishwasher items, cleaned up 7 puzzles in the children's rooms, sang "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" with Silas more times than I can count, and also bathed all three children at the same time.  No wonder I was ready for bed.  With all these multitude of things to do every day, I often wonder how the "big things" will ever get done: the real teaching and growing and learning.  And yet they do.  Every day.  In our house it was evidenced by Silas today declaring:  I had a happy heart! That gives God glory!

Eventful, I Suppose

Today was one of those days that was eventful for our home, but really could have been happening in any home anywhere.

First of all, Shane brought me flowers when he came home.  Love.

Also, Lieren went potty on the potty.  I know!  I totally can't believe I'm thinking about potty training her.  But she has been "talking" about going potty for a few weeks now.  So I started sitting the two littles on the potty at bathtime, which they think is hilarious.  Then this morning, after Lieren told me she needed to go, then proceeded to go, I told Shane that if she was an only child I would potty train her right now.  But it's just so much work, I said.  To which he replied, And it will be less work later?  I think I just shrugged my shoulders.  But two hours later I decided I didn't have anything to lose and, with absolutely no plan in mind, started taking her.  Tonight after dinner she came and told me she needed to go so we went, then went again.  There were also accidents.  So we'll see.  The jury's still out.  But it sure would be nice to have her trained before another little comes!

Then here was the scene in Silas' room at the end of his "rest-time".  Yes, I have become willing to drop his nap.  So he rests, reads books, and plays quietly till the clock says 3.  Today he came out after reading books for a while and I could tell he was really tired.  So told him he had some more time to stay in his room and why didn't he sit in his chair?  I heard him rocking for a while and then quiet.  The jury is also still out on this whole dropping nap thing.  Today he slept, but tonight he is sick.  So who knows what the next few weeks will bring?  But I will say that our home has been more peaceful, and so has my heart, since I let go and became willing for him to stay awake if he needs to.

Finally, not to leave Simeon out, I have been finding some new ways to work with Sim's irregular sleeping patterns.  This morning was super sweet.  He sat by me on the couch as I ate my cereal, taking bites here and there while the other two children slept soundly.  Then he played at my feet as I had a quiet time.  Like with Silas and naps, it feels good to not try to fight who my children are and what it seems they need.  Trust me, I haven't always been here.  The Lord knows I've begged Him to change some sleep issues in this house.  But He has been faithful to keep teaching me that while He might not change what I would like changed, His grace is sufficient.

To add to all that, as I mentioned above, I think we have sick kids tonight.  So here's me heading to bed.  Might be a long night...

Two Lefties?

Or maybe two righties?  They keep us guessing...

Simeon has often been the one hiding in pictures in the past, but can you find Lieren this time?

And evenings like tonight when Daddy is home are the best...

I am doing a little "tweaking" with naptime around here.  Today was the first day of the new plan.  We'll see how it goes.  At least I can say that bedtime went much better tonight than it has in over a month.  I told Shane tonight that I am thankful for a renewed determination to seek the Lord about decisions like this.  He alone knows what is best for our family, especially when we are charting new territory.  And I have a growing need to get some of the "tweaking" worked out before baby boy arrives!